Tornadoes are ripping through the heartland, leaving half a million without power—a harsh reality we’re facing more often. When the storm hits, generators are usually the go-to for quick backup, reliable and efficient. But to be truly prepared, it’s smart to combine solutions: solar, battery, and generator working together. This guide will walk you through these three solutions and show how the latest Apex 300 portable power station integrates all three, powering through every backup need:
- Battery Backup: How Many Batteries Do You Really Need?
- Solar Backup: How to Make the Most of Free Sunshine?
- Generator Backup: Plan C for Rainy Days or Prolonged Outages?
Battery Backup: How Many Batteries Do You Really Need?
Battery-powered backup systems like the Apex 300 are compact, efficient, and user-friendly. Depending on your setup, they can keep essential appliances running for days. The key is to understand your energy needs—most battery systems last a few days based on capacity and usage. Choosing a scalable system means you can start small and expand as your power demands grow.
For example, a single Apex 300 offers 2,764.8Wh of capacity and 3,840W of output power, supporting dual 120/240V voltage. It can be expanded up to 58kWh capacity and 11.52kW output, enough to power a typical home for an entire week without interruption.
How to customize Apex 300 to fit your needs:
Scalable Battery Power for Power Outages |
|||
| Power Demands | Accessible Loads | Power Needs | BLUETTI Backup |
| Essential power for short-term outages | Refrigerator, light, smartphone, laptop, router, A/C, etc. | Flexible power can support critical devices with minimal initial investment. Ideal for first-time users. | Apex 300 (2,764.8Wh | $0.43/Wh) |
| Comfort & Convenience | TV, oven, washing machine, etc. | Ensures essential devices and medical equipment keep running as usual. | Apex 300 + B300K
(5,529.6Wh | $0.36/Wh ) |
| Whole-Home Backup | High-power kitchen appliances, AC units, water pump, EV charging, etc. | Effortlessly charge heavy-duty devices or EV even when long-term outages occur. | 3*Apex 300 + 3* B300K+ Hub A1+AT1 (16,588.8Wh | $0.48/Wh) |
Solar Backup: How to Make the Most of Free Sunshine?
When the power goes out, but the sun is still shining, solar becomes your best backup. While solar panel efficiency and sunlight vary by location, the key to minimizing energy waste is maximizing a system’s solar input. Take the Apex 300 as a case in point. It can handle up to 6,400W of solar input when paired with the Solar X 4K Charge Controller. This enables seamless integration with your existing solar inverter—no complicated wiring like traditional backup setups. That means faster recharge, smarter use of free, clean energy, and most importantly, a payback period as short as two years.
Wondering about fast solar charging? The Apex 300’s dual MPPT controllers enable the system to charge up to 80% in just 40 minutes, making it one of the fastest charging systems on the market.
Looking to go big? By connecting three Apex 300 units in parallel using the Hub A1 Parallel Box and the AT1 Smart Distribution Box—plus three Solar X 4K controllers—you can unlock a massive 30,720W of solar input. This ensures that the system captures every bit of sunlight, even during short sunny breaks. In sun-drenched states like Texas or Florida, where outages are common, such high solar intake offers a powerful advantage. Take California as another example: under the NEM 3.0 policy, many homeowners with large solar arrays are turning to storage solutions. A setup like this allows them to store excess energy instead of wasting it—something most solar generators simply can’t match in terms of input capacity.
Generator Backup: Plan C for Rainy Days or Prolonged Outages?
When outages drag on or cloudy days limit solar output, battery and solar systems alone might not be enough. That’s where a generator backup steps in as your reliable fallback. The Apex 300 is ready for this, featuring built-in 50A charging ports that work seamlessly with standard 30A or 50A generator cables. With a 3,840W max input, it can fully recharge in just 65 minutes—restoring your power supply fast. Need even more capacity? In a parallel setup, it supports 120/240V generator input up to 11,520W, offering serious flexibility as a top-tier home battery backup solution.
Why complicate things - don’t gas generators already do the job?
Well, not quite. Traditional generators run at a fixed output, no matter how much power you actually need—so any excess energy simply goes to waste. Pairing one with a battery system like the Apex 300 changes the game: it stores that extra energy, letting you use it exactly when you need it.
In real-world use, you'd run the generator during the day to rapidly charge the Apex 300, then switch to its silent battery power through the night—saving fuel and cutting noise when it matters most. And because the Apex 300 is safe to store indoors, you won’t have to worry about leaving your power system exposed or dealing with gas fumes while you sleep.
For an even more seamless setup, you can take advantage of your already-installed inlet box, by connecting the Apex 300 to your home’s power system through the inlet box and then link it to your generator. This way, you only need to flip the generator’s switch to transfer power to the Apex 300, avoiding the hassle of unplugging and plugging in cables.
Other Key Takeaways for Home Backup
- Lower AC idle drain means more efficient runtime: Units with minimal standby consumption can make a big difference during long outages. For example, the Apex 300 with around 20W idle drain (nearly one-third of what’s typical in its class) may keep a fridge running up to 24 hours longer and extend CPAP usability by more than double compared to typical models.
- Battery lifespan is a long-term investment: If you're looking into a battery backup, lifespan really matters. The Apex 300 uses EV-grade cells that can last over 6,000 cycles - so you’re looking at around 17 years of regular use.
Every household is different, and so are their backup needs. Your decision should be based on how often you experience outages, how much energy your essentials draw, and how long you need to stay powered. Still, the safest strategy is always layered preparedness—solar, generator,battery. One plan is good. Three plans are better. With integrated systems like the Apex 300 combining all three, weathering this hurricane season might just get a little easier.
The Apex 300 solar generator, a 2.7kWh powerhouse, is now up for grabs on Indiegogo for just $900 when bundled with the B300K expansion battery—that’s roughly $0.36 per Wh (yes, tax and shipping included). Quite a steal for something that can keep your fridge humming and your home powered through a blackout.
Early birds get more than just the worm this time: limited-time pricing, flexible installment plans, and a few extra perks sweeten the deal. Don’t snooze too long—the campaign ends July 19.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
